Suspects in the Berezovskaya murder case revealed new details of the case
The suspects in the murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya told investigators that the woman may have been linked not only to the attempted assassination of businessman Vadim Yermolayev in Monaco, but also to other operations. Those involved in the case have begun cooperating with investigators and are providing testimony regarding possible details of the planning of the explosion and the events that followed.
The suspects in the Anastasia Berezovskaya murder case—current GUR officer Vladislav Reut and former SBU officer Vitaliy Zhikovych—are providing investigators with new details about the case. According to sources close to the investigation, both men are cooperating with investigators and providing detailed testimony. According to the publication’s sources, their accounts of the main events partially coincide, which is helping law enforcement reconstruct the sequence of events.
According to the suspects, Berezovska—whom investigators believe to be the perpetrator of the attempted assassination of businessman Vadym Yermolaev in Monaco—may have been involved in other operations as well. In particular, the men claimed that she may have been linked to operations involving blogger Anatoly Shariy. According to the suspects, one of Berezovskaya’s motives for participating may have been money. They claim that she wanted to earn money to buy a house in Ukraine.
They also said that her travel expenses, lodging, car rentals, and other needs were covered. One of the key aspects of the case involves information about the manufacture of an explosive device. According to sources, Vladislav Reut allegedly admitted to manufacturing an electronic initiation unit—the part of the device that triggers the explosion.
According to the suspect, this component was disguised as a children’s toy car and sent to the perpetrator via Germany. After that, she was allegedly supposed to assemble the device into its final form. At the same time, Vitaliy Zhikovich stated that Berezovskaya could not have manufactured such a device on her own, as it requires specialized knowledge and training.
One of the suspects also said that the original plan for the operation was allegedly different. According to him, the initial plan was not to kill Vadim Yermolayev but to kidnap him; however, the mission was supposedly changed later. Investigators are also examining the theory that, after French law enforcement identified the woman who carried out the assassination attempt, a decision may have been made to eliminate her. According to this version, the reason could have been the threat that she would reveal the identities of the other participants in the operation.
At the same time, the Office of the Prosecutor General informed journalists that, at present, the two suspects are officially charged only with the premeditated murder of Anastasia Berezovskaya.
What is known about the explosion in Monaco
An explosion occurred in a residential building in Monaco on the evening of June 29. Three people were injured as a result, including businessman Vadym Yermolayev, his partner, and his son. Yermolayev is one of the largest real estate developers in Dnipro. In 2021, Forbes magazine estimated his net worth at approximately $220 million. After Russia’s full-scale invasion began, he was no longer residing in Ukraine.
In 2019, Yermolayev renounced his Ukrainian citizenship and obtained Cypriot citizenship. In 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a decision by the National Security and Defense Council to impose personal sanctions against him. In early July, it was reported that the body of Anastasia Berezovskaya had been found near Kyiv; Interpol had issued a warrant for her arrest in connection with an explosion in Monaco.
Subsequently, the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed that the deceased was Anastasia Berezovskaya, a citizen of Ukraine. According to the investigation, after returning to Ukraine, she had contact with two men—a former law enforcement officer and a current employee of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR). Both men have been notified that they are suspected of intentional homicide. According to the prosecutor’s office, one of the suspects described the circumstances of the woman’s death and implicated the other suspect. Following this, law enforcement conducted a reenactment and identified the location where the body had been hidden.
The investigation into the case is ongoing. Law enforcement officials continue to verify the testimony they have received and cross-reference it with other evidence. This was reported by “Ukrainska Pravda,” citing sources.
Relatives of Anastasia Berezovskaya, who was suspected of attempting to assassinate businessman Vadym Yermolayev in Monaco, stated that she returned to Ukraine because she wanted to see her seven-year-old son.
